CHAPTER 2

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Livia Kyanen was by the shore. She liked it there, and sometimes she liked just lay in the sand and let the waves wash over her. But not tonight. She was much to riled up to be that peaceful.

'If I Never Saw Your Face Again' buy Maroon 5 blared from her radio as she punched and kicked the hell out of her punching bag. She stopped, walked over to her large overstuffed arm chair that she kept on the beach, and snatched the towel from it wiping the back of her neck and staring up at the full moon.

"Lunch is in the basket." She deadpanned to the presence she sensed behind her.

Acheron stepped forward and gazed at her curiously. But he didn't say anything, being a smart man. She was in no mood to talk, and he had picked up on that as no man besides him could. She sighed.

"I apologize for not exactly being social. But this isn't my favorite time of the year and... well I don't need protection."

"Then shall I leave?"

She didn't hesitate. "No. I mean your free to come and go, who am I to boss you around? But I imagine anything is better than hanging out with the bitch goddess."

She didn't really care if he left or not at this point. After so much heart break, you become numb, she told herself. But she, and a small, still hoping, piece of her heart, knew better. Acheron was the only person that had kept her going 11,000 years ago and now was no different. Knowing she was able to free him from that...that bitch, made her happy. And it would be nice to have someone in the house the next morning, on Christmas.

No doubt he didn't expect a present from her but he'd get one. They sat and ate in silence, Livia's unsociable mood slowly calming. Finally, as they finished, she smiled softly at him.

"Let me show you around?"

He rose, still silent. A part of her was hurt by it, but he was still in shock, and knowing the past, excluding the years that Artemis had replaced, he had a right not to like her.

She showed him the forest surrounding her home and then hesitated, made a decision. She took him to a cabin, next to the Castle like building that was her home-their home. She opened the large oak door, which creaked. This cabin was older than the castle at several centuries old. The castle was only a single century and and much larger than the cabin, though it to was big. Even if it was one room, plus a bathroom she'd added recently. Nervously. She stepped inside. This wasn't his Christmas present, but she hoped he liked it anyway.

Acheron stepped into the cabin behind the woman, his fears seemingly confirmed. She was like Artemis. Or so he thought until she turned and smiled sheepishly at him.

"This was my studio, a long time ago, I used to paint. But I can' paint the way I used to before so, I don't anymore. I haven't been here but to dust over the years. If you would like, you can use it."

"What for?"

The beautiful blond woman shrugged at him, "Whatever you want. Just to be alone, or to throw wild parties with the locals. I don't care, its yours now."

He struggled to understand. No place had ever really been 'his'.

"Mine?" he whispered, looking over the room and failing to notice the slight smile on the angels face.

"Yes, Ash, yours. I won't enter here, or your room at the house, without asking."

"I.. don't understand," he rasped, looking back at her, his eyes confused, "why are you doing this for me?"

He really didn't get this woman, not one little thing made any sense! She fed him, she talked to him as if he was worth something, and she gave him this!

She looked at him, something a kin to sadness in her eyes, and smiled softly, a little bitterly, once again. When she spoke her voice was low and quiet and her shining lavender eyes flashed a familiar sapphire blue. Why was it so familiar? Aphrodite's were a lighter blue...

"I don't know, or care what went on anywhere, or anytime away from here, Acheron." she spoke, her voice almost quivering, but not quite, "Here you have the same rights as everyone else. Here, you don't need to pretend your someone else. Just be you, because I couldn't ask for more."

His eyes watered, though the tears stayed hidden, did she mean that? Why would this woman, someone he didn't know at all, be kinder than those he'd known most of his 11,000 years?

"Oh, and that painting in the corner, covered by a sheet? Please don't look at it."

She turned to leave but must have sensed his reluctance to do so because she looked back. "I'll show you your room in about an hour?"

He simply nodded unable to talk without betraying how touched he was. And when she left his eyes went to the painting. It was wrong of him to even think of so much as peaking at it. But he was drawn toward it. He walked to the corner, and lifted the dusty sheet. He waited and sneezed repeatedly as eons of dust fell. And then, in the dim moonlight, he gaped at it.

It couldn't be...Bottom of Form 1